Don't leave dogs unattended

Updated 7:02 pm, Thursday, May 16, 2013

I found a dog roaming dangerously close to High Ridge Road during my lunch break. I pulled over to get him before he got hit and to try to get him home. He wore an electric fence collar which either didn't work or wasn't strong enough enticement to keep him from escaping his yard.

On his collar was a 2010 Stamford dog license and a 2011 rabies tag, neither listed his name, address or owner's phone number. I brought him into Choice Pet figuring if anyone could help me get him home it would be a pet food store. The people working there were kind enough to not only call the numbers on the tags to try to find his owners.

Because it was the middle of the day, we were able to get in touch with the owner from the rabies tag and he was able to get safely home. Great ending, but I wanted to point out some common sense.

If you are not home, don't leave your dog outside unattended. Dogs love a good adventure and will do whatever it takes to have one. We live in a bustling city and a loose dog is likely to get into some real trouble. Make sure that the batteries on your electric fence collar work -- it is useless without batteries.

Your dog should always wear a collar or tags that list his name, his address and a phone number (preferably a cell number) where the owner can be reached. I will risk my life to save your dog from getting hurt, but please give me the information I need to get him back to you. Your dog counts on you to be the smart one, don't leave him hanging.

Rudi Karukas

Stamford

Only Americans should vote

To the editor:

Early voting may soon be coming to Connecticut. Its potential benefits or detriments will no doubt be a topic of future discussions. However, the erroneous impression by some that Republicans want to "suppress the vote" is disheartening. Nothing could be further from the truth. Republicans want every American citizen to vote. They do not want non-American citizens voting in American elections. What is wrong with that?

Yet in I see a letter to the editor (Advocate, May 15) accusing Republicans of attempting to "suppress the vote." Why? When did ensuring that only American citizens vote in American elections become associated with voter suppression? Should we open voting to everybody who is living in America at the time of an election? Should foreigners vacation in America during an election and be allowed to vote?

Free elections are a unique benefit of America. Limiting voter eligibility to American citizens is not voter suppression. It is election integrity. I would like to see the voter participation rate closer to 100 percent instead of the below 50 percent we normally experience. But I do not want non-American citizens voting in American elections. After all, to do so would dilute the benefits of being an American citizen.

Mark Plotzky

Stamford

Take action on nepotism

To the editor:

If one of your employees was the son of your boss (or your boss's boss), would you treat that employee differently if there was a problem? Of course! You'd be worried about your job.

Three years ago, there was another problem with nepotism in city hiring, and the leaders of the Board of Representatives would not consider having a formal policy. Shame on them! Now, another proposal has been made.